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From Fruchtnektar und Haferdrink: Bundesregierung will geplante Zuckersteuer ausweiten, tagesschau.de, 25 August 2026. Quoted for study. The words are the publisher's; the analysis is ours.
Meaning
Sugar-free lemonades would probably also be affected. It is proposed that such drinks be taxed at 26 cents per litre.
Word for word: Affected would then probably also sugar-free lemonades. Proposed is, that such drinks with 26 cents per litre taxed be.
Typical journalistic or formal register discussing a proposed sugar tax: sugar-free sodas would presumably be affected too, and the proposal is to tax such drinks at 26 cents per litre.
Both sentences use passive-like structures. The first is a verb-first conditional statement: the past participle 'Betroffen' fronts the sentence and the finite Konjunktiv II auxiliary 'wären' follows, expressing a hypothetical consequence without an explicit wenn-clause. The second sentence is a passive in the present tense ('Vorgeschlagen wird') followed by a dass-clause; inside that subordinate clause the finite verb 'werden' stands finally, forming the passive of 'besteuert werden'.
Rules at work(7)
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wären
The hypothetical consequence of the proposed tax is expressed with Konjunktiv II of sein.
The form for the hypothetical, the unreal and the polite. Wäre, hätte and the modals have their own forms; most other verbs use würde plus an infinitive.
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Vorgeschlagen wird
The first main clause is a werden-passive without an expressed agent.
Werden plus a past participle. The agent, when it is mentioned at all, follows von for a person and durch for a means. In the perfect passive the participle of werden appears as worden rather than geworden.
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besteuert werden
In the dass-clause the finite auxiliary werden stands at the end after the participle.
In a subordinate clause the finite verb stands last. Where the clause also holds a participle or an infinitive, the finite verb goes after them, so the order at the end is participle then auxiliary.
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dass
dass introduces the content clause that functions as the subject of 'vorgeschlagen wird'.
Weil, dass, wenn, als, ob, obwohl, damit, nachdem, bevor and the rest introduce a subordinate clause and send its finite verb to the very end.
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mit 26 Cent
mit governs the dative, here expressing the rate at which the tax applies.
Aus, außer, bei, mit, nach, seit, von and zu always take the dative. Several of them contract with the article: von dem becomes vom, zu der becomes zur.
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Vorgeschlagen wird
Fronting the participle leaves the finite verb in second position.
In a German main clause the finite verb is always the second element. The first element can be the subject, but it can just as easily be a time expression, an object or a whole subordinate clause; whatever it is, it counts as one element and the verb follows it. This is why putting something other than the subject first pushes the subject after the verb.
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Vorgeschlagen
The separable prefix vor rejoins the stem in the participle vorgeschlagen.
A weak verb forms its participle as ge plus stem plus t, a strong verb as ge plus a often changed stem plus en. Verbs with an inseparable prefix and verbs ending in ieren take no ge at all.
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Words(17)
- betreffen
to affect, to concern
verbB2betreffen, betraf, hat betroffenmit habenstrong
Here only its participle appears, used adjectivally/predicatively: 'betroffen sein' = to be affected.
- sein
to be
verbA1sein, war, ist gewesenmit seinirregular
Copula here linking subject to predicate noun.
- dann
then, in that case
adverbA1temporal
- auch
also, too
adverbA1modal
Focus particle; here it means the ministers are included among others already named.
- zuckerfrei
sugar-free
adjectiveB1zuckerfreier, am zuckerfreiesten
- die Limonade
lemonade, soft drink
nounB1pl. Limonadengen. Limonadeweak declension
In German usually means any sweet fizzy soft drink, not necessarily lemon-flavoured.
- vorschlagen
to propose, to suggest
verbB1vorschlagen, schlug vor, vorgeschlagenmit habenseparablestronggoverns dative
Separable verb: 'ich schlage ... vor', participle 'vorgeschlagen'.
- werden
become, will (future auxiliary)
verbA2werden, wurde, ist gewordenmit habenirregular
Also the passive auxiliary; do not confuse with bekommen (= receive).
- dass
that
conjunctionA2subordinating
Always sends the finite verb to the end of the clause.
- solch
such
determinerA2demonstrative
- das Getränk
drink, beverage
nounA2pl. Getränkegen. Getränksstrong declension
- mit
with, by (means of transport)
prepositionA1governs dative
Always dative, including travel: 'mit dem Bus, mit dem Rad'.
- 26
twenty-six
numeralA1
- der Cent
cent
nounA1pl. Centgen. Centinvariable declension
- pro
per
prepositionA2governs dative
Always takes the dative, e.g. 'pro Tag', 'pro Nacht'.
- der Liter
litre
nounA1pl. Litergen. Litersstrong declension
- besteuern
to tax
verbB2besteuern, besteuerte, hat besteuertmit habenweak